Township of North Allis v. Township of Allis ( 1905 )

Moore, 0. J.

A bill in chancery was filed by the complainant for the cancellation of certain notes issued by the town board of the complainant on a settlement made by the joint boards of the complainant and defendant. The township of Allis was divided into two townships, known as “North Allis’’and “Allis.” A joint meeting of the township boards of the two townships was held to apportion the assets and liabilities of the townships. They divided the real estate and personal property, and among other matters this meeting attempted to settle was to apportion all the highway moneys spent on»the highways in the two townships, when it was then agreed the complainant should pay the defendant the sum of $3,126.14, being money spent on the highways in the township of complainant in excess of that spent on the highways of the defendant, and this action was declared to be a settlement. Complainant by its officers at that time issued six promissory notes for the above amount, due yearly. These notes are still under the control of the defendant and remain unpaid.

Complainant alleges that the joint boards had no authority to enter into such a settlement, or pass on a question of moneys spent on the highways, that it has no remedy at law, and that such action is not binding on complainant and is a fraud on the taxpayers. It prays that the agreement on the part of complainant to pay tho notes be canceled, and the notes be delivered up and destroyed, and that an injunction issue, if necessary.

Defendant filed a demurrer, denying that a court' of .equity had jurisdiction, and alleging that complainant had an adequate remedy at law. The demurrer was overruled and defendant allowed sufficient time to answer. The case is brought here by appeal. The questions are: (1) Has .the chancery court jurisdiction ? (2) Has the complainant an adequate remedy at law ?

It is insisted by the solicitor of defendant that the joint boards of the two townships have authority to adjust the property rights and liabilities of the two townships, and that, when they have done so, the courts will not interfere — citing Township of Marathon v. Township of Oregon, 8 Mich. 372; Township of Midland v. Township of Roscommon, 39 Mich. 424; and Township of Churchill v. Township of Cummings, 51 Mich. 446. An examination of these cases will disclose a very different situation from that made by the bill of complaint. It is doubtless true that, when the joint boards are acting within the scope of the authority conferred by the statute, the courts will not interfere, except in cases of fraud or mistake. It is pertinent, then, to inquire whether what was done in this instance was within the power conferred. Section 2407, 1 Comp. Laws, provides for a disposition of real .estate belonging to the townships. Section 2410, 1 Comp. Laws, provides for an apportionment of the moneys, rights, and credits, or other personal estate. Section 2413, 1 Comp. Laws, provides for an apportionment of the debts. We find no provision in the statute authorizing the action taken by the township board in relation to highway expenditures already made, and the action of the township board of the complainant township in that regard does not bind the complainant. This action resulted in the giving of promissory notes which may pass into the hands of innocent third parties, and which are prima facie valid. To make the relief speedy and effective, the notes should be canceled. The case presented is one where equity should take jurisdiction.

The order of the court below is affirmed. Defendant is given 20 days in which to answer.

McAlvay, Grant, Blair, and Ostrander, JJ., concurred.